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The hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) held its closing ceremony at Gimnasio el Coloso de Barranca symbolizing the completion of the hospital ship’s third medical mission in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, July 27.

The U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) left from Naval Station Norfolk, June 14, to begin its deployment to South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. During its deployment, Comfort will provide medical assistance in support of regional partners and in response to the regional impacts of the Venezuela political and economic crisis.

The U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) deploys from Naval Station Norfolk on Friday, June 14 at 8 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. During its five-month deployment, Comfort will provide medical assistance in support of regional partners and in response to the regional impacts of the Venezuela political and economic crisis. While deployed, Comfort will conduct mission stops in Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Panama, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Medical, dental and vision care was provided by multiple organizations that include Soldiers from the Missouri National Guard Medical Detachment, U.S. Army Reserve 185th Dental Company, U.S. Air Force Reserve 87th Medical Support Squadron, Guatemala Ministry of Public Health, non-governmental organization Florida International University and Guatemalan forces over five days and helped provide needed medical and dental care for citizens of San Sebastian, Huehuetenango.

The U.S. is sending a hospital ship to aid in the refugee crisis resulting from instability in Venezuela. At the annual Washington Conference on the Americas at the State Department, Vice President Mike Pence announced the Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort will deploy to the U.S. Southern Command area of operations next month.

On Feb. 4, 2019, Brazilian Navy Oswaldo Cruz-class hospital ship NAsH Carlos Chagas (U 19) departed Manaus, Brazil with four U.S. Navy physicians embarked to work alongside their Brazilian Navy counterparts and deliver medical care to a series of small villages peppering the coastline of the Amazon River over the course of one month.